The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, it’s the Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 of the Best of 7 series. The series was tied 2-2 with All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Trae Young of Atlanta Hawks ruled out due to injuries. It was a battle of straight basketball basics and sticks to their game when it mattered the most.
Jrue Holiday is the first player in Bucks history with multiple 25-point, 10-assist games in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/TPbJrS8RKc
The Bucks came all guns blazing as if Giannis’s absence did not affect the Bucks. Straightway got onto a 20-point lead in the 1st Quarter with the backcourt of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday making the young Atlanta squad dance on their tune. Nothing went right for the Hawks from beyond the arc as they scored just 6 of 22, 3 pointers where most of their bread comes from in the game.
The most Surprising Scenario:
Brook Lopez (33 PTS), Khris Middleton (26 PTS), Jrue Holiday (25 PTS) and Bobby Portis (22 PTS) are the 1st quartet of @Bucks to each score 20+ in a postseason game since:
Terry Cummings (30), Sidney Moncrief (25), Jack Sikma (25) and Paul Pressey (21) on May 4, 1988 pic.twitter.com/1rPdQ5xddJ
Brook Lopez, the 33-year-old Centre who plays second fiddle to Giannis, went back to his younger days with the Brooklyn Nets. He played old-school dominant basketball basics to shut down Clint Capella throughout the game. Lopez finished the game with his Playoffs Career-high 33 points, Seven rebounds with 77.8 field goal percentage.
The expected backcourt of Middleton and Holiday scored 26 and 25 points and had the game controlled throughout the 48 minutes.
Bobby Portis was given his 1st Playoffs start in the absence of Giannis and he did not disappoint. He kept John Collins in his pocket and restricted him to 19 points on a poor 43% shooting. Portis himself scored his Playoffs career-high 22 points.
What went wrong for the Atlanta Hawks:
Hawks’ fairytale run is on the brink of elimination as they fall back 3-2 in the Eastern Conference. With the absence of Trae Young, it is expected that the Hawks will struggle, but they won Game 4 without Trae Young with Giannis on the court for about 20 minutes before going out with an injury,
In a game without Greek Freak, John Collins and Clint Capela had to dominate and take the game away. However, Capela was restricted to 6 points and Eight rebounds and Collins to 19 points by an aging veteran and had more combined points.
The Bucks are a win away from the NBA Finals, getting eliminated in the Bubble against the Miami Heat last year, Milwaukee Bucks look to avenge it this season. However, there is a possibility of Trae Young making a comeback in Game 6 this can be a boost to the Atlanta Hawks and should look to force a Game 7 and roll it back at the Bucks arena.
